Meet the Facilitators: Jaycee Cole (she/they)

Where are you from? Where do you live now?

I grew up in a small town in the middle of Michigan. After graduating college, I answered the call to the west coast and spent the bulk of my 20s in San Francisco. When the COVID-19 pandemic shut down the city, my partner, puppy, and I moved to Boulder, Colorado, to pursue my master's degree.

What is your educational background?

For as long as I can remember, I’ve been fascinated by how people choose to behave, relate with others, and interact with nature. In my undergraduate studies, I set out to understand how our bodies behave at a cellular level. I studied nutrition, human anatomy, and psychology, graduating with a BA in Human Psychology and Heart Studies. I went on to study leadership coaching with Co-Active Training Institute and am a licensed, certified coach. Hit me up if you want to talk about personality typing or embodiment! I am currently studying to obtain my Masters in Wilderness Transpersonal Psychology, which is a fancy way of including our connection to nature in the therapeutic process.

How did you get to where you are now?

Slowly and with loads of compassion—from others and myself. In 2017, I sat curled up next to a dear friend overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Our coffee was fresh off the camping stove, and tears welled in my eyes as I whispered a scary truth to the abyss, “I just don’t know what to do.” A month later, I took my first leadership coaching course, which completely changed the trajectory of my life. It was a door into new possibilities. I only got to where I am today because I asked for help, whispered my dreams and fears to people who saw my light when it was hard for me to see and integrated the good and uncomfortable.

How did you become involved with Concussed.?

I grew up deeply involved in sports of all kinds. My dad was a college football coach, I played college volleyball, and I spent weekends working sporting events throughout my life. I witnessed the joys and camaraderie sports bring; I witnessed my fair share of career-ending injuries, including an injury that led my little sister and best friend into years of treatment and identity reconstruction. Fast forward almost ten years to when I met Cait Ward. Cait had the vision to create healing spaces for people living with PCS. She also has the skills and community orientation to build her vision into reality.

What skills or passions will you bring with you to the Concussed. retreat?

All things brain-body connection! Our bodies are incredible tools - unfortunately, injuries tend to sever the relationship between our body and mind. Embodied self-awareness has been key to my healing. I continue to be amazed at what people can do when we slow down and set goals from a place of deep connection to self and nature.

What are you looking forward to most about facilitating a retreat with Concussed. this year?

So many things, but first of all, I look forward to working with each participant who shows up to this retreat. I respect anyone who commits a week of their time to their self-care, nurturing, and self-understanding. You deserve this time!